Report: Fatigue probably played role in bus crash

MONTEREY COUNTY

Associated Press

Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Photo: Vern Fisher, AP

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In this April 28, 2009 file photo, the scene of a multi-fatal accident involving a tour bus traveling south on Highway 101 near Soledad, Calif., is seen. Fatigue may have played a role in the bus crash last year that killed the vehicle's driver and four French tourists traveling through California on vacation, authorities said. (Monterey County herald, Vern Fisher) less

In this April 28, 2009 file photo, the scene of a multi-fatal accident involving a tour bus traveling south on Highway 101 near Soledad, Calif., is seen. Fatigue may have played a role in the bus crash last ... more

Photo: Vern Fisher, AP

Report: Fatigue probably played role in bus crash

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Fatigue may have played a role in a bus crash last year that killed the vehicle's driver and four French tourists traveling through California on vacation, authorities said.

The California Highway Patrol issued its final report Monday on the April 28, 2009, crash.

A preliminary investigation had found that the driver, John Egnew, made an unsafe turn, which caused the bus to hit a guardrail and overturn in Soledad, about 100 miles south of San Francisco.

Egnew, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown through the windshield and killed. The crash also killed four tourists and injured dozens of others.

Sgt. Tim Neumann said further investigation, including interviews with more than a dozen passengers, revealed that fatigue probably played a role in Egnew making the turn.

"The actual cause of the collision ended up being the unsafe turning movement," Neumann said. "There was also enough evidence for us (to find) that he was fatigued prior to the collision."

Neumann said passengers told investigators they saw Egnew dozing off and missing exits during the trip.

Toxicology tests on Egnew came back negative, according to the preliminary report. Investigators also found that the bus, which was about one year old, had no mechanical problems and that neither weather nor road conditions played a role in the crash.

Bus company Orion Pacific declined to comment Monday.

The tour, which started in San Francisco, was en route to Southern California, where the tourists were due to fly out of Los Angeles back to France. A total of 36 people had been on board, including 34 French tourists, one Canadian tour guide and Egnew of Corona.

The French tourists have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Orion Pacific and others claiming the tour participants were injured or killed "as a result of negligent handling of the bus by the Orion Pacific bus driver who is the sole cause of the accident."

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Friday in Monterey County Superior Court.

A San Francisco lawyer for the plaintiffs, Jean-Yves Lendormy, did not immediately return a message Monday by the Californian newspaper.